GRAND RAPIDS, MI – A homeless woman who stole clothes from Kohl's Department Store with the intention of selling them to friends has the dubious distinction of being the first person to be sentenced for the offense of organized retail crime in Kent County.

But the law, passed with the intent of making stiffer penalties for people who make a resale industry out of shoplifting, is not going to deliver its full punch in this case.

Elizabeth Rae Hux pleaded guilty in Kent County Circuit Court to the crime after she went to the RiverTown Crossings Mall on June 2 and began filling up a shopping bag at the Kohl’s Department Store.

Hux had a piece of paper with a list of items and was selecting multiple items “paying no regard for the prices,” according to a Grandville Police Department report.

After filling up her bag, Hux allegedly left the bag by the exit and 36-year-old Damion Nelmark grabbed the bag and left the store.

Nelmark allegedly told police he was called by Hux and agreed to carry the bag which she told him was too heavy for her to carry.

Police say they found Nelmark with $609 worth of items from the store. He admitted that he thought the items may be stolen, police said.

Damion James NelmarkCourtesy Photo

Hux, who said she last lived in the Godfrey-Lee area of Wyoming, said she planned to sell the items, according to police.

Nelmark pleaded guilty on Wednesday to regular retail fraud and is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 10 in Kent County Circuit Court.